Sun power to light 100 more Mindanao villages

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/gen/2007/10/16/news/sun.power.to.light.100.more.mindanao.villages.html

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Sun power to light 100 more Mindanao villages

BULDON, Shariff Kabunsuan -- Ravaged by the 2000 all-out war declared by then President Joseph Estrada, at least 80 villagers here have been rewarded with solar panel systems of a United States-funded program.

The program vowed to light 100 more villages until next year. Barangay Kulimpang forms part of Camp Abubakar, the main camp of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that fell into the hands of the government the same year.

Before and after the all-out war, residents in far-flung Kulimpang existed with their nights lighted mostly by kerosene lamps.

But in 2006, their lives improved when the Alliance for Mindanao Off-Grid Renewable Energy program gave them solar panel systems that allow the beneficiaries to now watch television programs of rival networks ABS-CBN and GMA-7.

"Our children can study better at night with these solar-powered systems. Also, I can do household chores at night," said Bai Dido Macatambog, who has been following GMA-7's evening telenovela "Marimar."

On Monday, Kulimpang residents and in about 400 villages in other parts of Mindanao simultaneously switch their lights for the second Lights Festival.

The activity coincided with the Muslims Lailatul Qadr (night of honor and dignity) observance, one of the holiest and blessed nights among Muslims occurring in one of the odd nights on the last 10 days of Ramadan.

...

[Greyskye]

1. New program empowers MILF's

The program vowed to light 100 more villages until next year. Barangay Kulimpang forms part of Camp Abubakar, the main camp of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that fell into the hands of the government the same year.

Now that would have been a headline!

[gateley]

2. K&R - how did such a humanitarian effort get by Bushco? This is good news. nt